Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. was established in June of 2011 as a small kitchen roundtable action group, to bring attention and awareness of the devastating effects of opioid medications after the death by suicide of 20 year old Michael David Israel.
Avi and Julie Israel decided they didn’t want to see other families suffer the loss of a loved one. The journey started with an interview with a Buffalo News reporter who told Michael’s story. That story got more attention from TV stations. Doctors, patients, parents and the population as a whole are not aware of the danger of opiate addiction. We wanted to find a way to address the overprescribing of pain medications such as hydrocodone and others.
Family Recovery Coach & Court Liaison
Save the Michaels of the World, Buffalo
Hey There! I am Kerri Brown and I started here at STMOTW in April 2023 as a Family Recovery Coach and Court Liaison. I am the mother of two beautiful and amazing adult daughters who are my inspiration and my WHY for everything! Before this career change, if I was not at a cheerleading game, competition, volleyball game, dance practice, or driving my girls around town I was working full time in the Restaurant Industry and part time as a Dance Teacher. Although both of those careers I loved dearly and miss, being an advocate and helping individuals struggling with SUD has always been a passion of mine. I have been an advocate and support for my own family members struggling with SUD over the years and when I came across the SUD Peer Specialist course at D’Youville I knew it was time to make a change and help more people. STMOTW gave me the chance to come and intern here for two weeks as one of my class requirements and from that day forward I knew this is where I wanted to be. I was given the chance to help other families like my own cope with their loved ones SUD. I love what I do and am here if you need someone to talk to and to help guide you through this difficult journey in recovery. We are only a phone call away. We Offer Hope. I genuinely believe that!
‘Narcan — it gives people a second chance’: New Narcan vending machine to save lives
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/northtowns/narcan-it-gives-people-a-second-chance-new-narcan-vending-machine-to-save-lives
There is a new way of fighting the drug overdose epidemic to save lives. A Narcan vending machine is now installed outside the Kenmore Fire Department.
“I reached out to Save the Michaels over 2 years ago and was looking for help with my husband, who is an alcoholic and at the time, he did not want to get any help. I came to understand that I needed help too. I have come a long way. I have a new perspective on things that I just didn’t think about amid all the drinking HE was doing. I can truly say that STM gave me the tools to use to keep things under control for ME. Once I used the tools suggested to me, I can honestly say that I was given a voice I didn’t know I had. I can say thanks to STM and their encouragement that my husband is now SOBER for a year and a half, and it has been awesome. SO, THANK YOU SAVE THE MICHAEL’S FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU ALL ARE AMAZING PEOPLE. YOU SAVED TWO PEOPLE THE DAY YOU CALLED BACK. GOD BLESS.”
“Tapping into the support provided by Save The Michaels has been an absolute godsend. We highly recommend it.”
“I am beyond grateful to tell you that because of your services…I was able to have my two beautiful daughters returned to my care.”